The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-01-27
Washington letter.
From our regular correspondent.

congress mas redeemed It's reputation
during the first half OF this its last
session, and it will nov go down to
history honored, even if it should do
nothing more for the remainder of its
life. The enactment OF the Presiden-
tial Succession bill has been followed
by that regulating the Electoral
Count, and so a double peril is remov-
ed, 1t is now pretty certain that Pres
ident Cleveland's successors will be
elected and inaugurated without any
resort to partisan war-a calamity
that hitherto has been ayerted only
by the tolerance of the people.
But this is not half OF what has been
accomplished. The Interstate Com
merce bill, "for better or for worse"
has gone through both houses, and
only awaits the Executive signature to
become law. Then a rigorous Anti
Polygamy measure has at last been
passed an investigation of the Pacific
Railroad crookedness has been order
ed and the old Mexican veterans are
about to be pensioned.
AT the end of this Congress, the
terms of one-third OF the whole num-
Der of United States Senators expire.
While some of them have been re-
elected, others will be succeeded BY
new men. 1t is noticeable that Fed
eral soldiers are getting scarce in the
Senate. There are only seven men
who fought on the Union side during
the war, while there are sixteen whose
names are on the muster rolls of the
Confederacy. 1t is probable that only
three of the ex-Federals will be left
when the Senate is called to order at
the commencement of the next SEES
sion. These will be Senators Hawley,
Henderson and Plumb. Fifteen Re-
publican Senators will be sworn in on
the 4th Of next March, but four OF
them wore the Confederate gray.
This will leave the Senate with TWEEN.
ty ex-Confederates, and three soldiers
of the Uuion.
In regard to Lieutenant Emory's
Arctic trip, Secretary Whitney has
expressed himself in no uncertain Ian.
guage. Referring 10 the report that
the Lieut.. wanted to go North tn the
"Thetis," he said the United States
had something else to do with its yes
sells, naval officers and sailors besides
sending them off on Arctic expedi
tions. 81 will not say, however" con
tinued the Secretary, chat there viii
be no such expedition under the pres
ent Administration, but certainly no
with my consent. No one will receive
orders from me for such trip in con
sonance with my wishes"
The President is in good health
again, but he is careful to favor hi
rheumatic knee on all occasions. II,
felt compelled to decline to review til,
order Of the Mystic Shrine which Wis
tied the city during the week, fol
fear Of the damp air to which h,
would be exposed, and he could no
go to the top of the Washington Mon
ument with Mrs. Cleveland and MI
CorcorGn according to appointment
This trip to the clouds had been ar
ranged for three o'clock, and at tina
hour everything was in readiness 70
the distinguished visitors. The int
rior OF the Monument was electrical,
lighted from top to bottom, a fire wa
built in the boiler house, steam wa
generated, and several preliminar,
trips of the elevator had been made
to see that everything was in complete
running order for the expected visit O
the President. Mrs. Cleveland was OF
time, and announcing in disappoint
ed tone that the President was no
able to come, gracefully rendered he
) arm to the venerable Mr.. Corcoran
and conducted him to the elevator
The air inside the monument is damn
and chilly, and when the marble doc
of the monument swung open, bias
rushed out that almost took the breatl
of those entering. The visitors look
ed down upon the magnificent pane
rama at the 500 foot level. Mrs
Cleveland took especial interest in tn
White House, and tried hard to recoe
nize a familiar figure at the librar,
window.
Tomorrow the prominent advocate
of woman suffrage will begin thei
Nineteenth Annual Convention il
this city, and tomorrow Senate
Blair will make an effort to have tn
Woman Suffrage amendment to tn
Constitution discussed in the Senate
Miss Susan B. Anthony, who has beer
here for some weeks, is as grim anC
hopeful and resolute as ever, wearing
her defeat of the last forty years a
cheerfully as other veterans wea
plumes of victory. She says, whel
women are concerned, at least, the re